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Byron Scott views college basketball as more physical than NBA

Lakers coach Byron Scott played in an NBA complete with clotheslines and haymakers, which may be why he’s upset over recent flagrant fouls.

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Written ByTravis Durkee

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Lakers coach Byron Scott played in an NBA complete with
clotheslines and haymakers, which may be why he’s upset over recent
flagrant fouls.

Lakers forward Carlos Boozer was assessed a flagrant 1 foul
during Sunday’s 88-87 win over the Pacers for a shove that sent
Pacers center Roy Hibbert to the floor. Hibbert jumped up and
confronted Boozer before the two were separated. Hibbert was given
a technical foul for his reaction.

"I asked all three referees to explain to me what a flagrant
foul is from now, because I have no clue. I really don't,"
Scott told ESPN Los Angeles. “They told me it was unnecessary,
basically, pushing him down, as far as what he did. I said, it's
still a push. But college ball is more aggressive than we are and
much more physical than the NBA right now."

Kobe Bryant, an 18-year veteran, was as shocked at the call as
his head coach.

"I wonder what the league is coming to when that's a flagrant
foul. It's a shame that has to be a flagrant," Bryant said. "It's a
foul. It's a technical foul, maybe. That's about it. But a flagrant
foul? My goodness. … That might not have even been a foul when
Byron was playing. The game has changed a lot."